v23| no1 annual march conference 2012 2012 Charlie Jeffery, Chair, Political Studies Association

The Annual Conference – back in Belfast for the fi rst time since 1997 – is looming large on the horizon. Our two convenors from the University of Ulster – Paul Carmichael, the Association Honorary Secretary and Cathy Gormley-Heenan have put together an outstanding programme for the event, taking place from 3rd-5th April at the Europa Hotel in Belfast.

The overarching theme is ‘In Defence of Politics’, echoing the title of the late and lamented Sir Bernard Crick’s classic PSA 2012 work from 1962, and calling on us to refl ect on the roles political debate, politicians and political scientists have – profi ling the profession: or should be playing – in democratic society. Annual new survey of academics within political studies We have an outstanding round-table discussion precisely on Charlie Jeffery, Chair, Political Studies Association Conference this theme to kick the conference off, with David Blunkett MP, Peter Riddell and Matt Flinders, a closing plenary lecture by Mr “The survey of the profession is He pointed out that a similar survey took place Speaker, John Bercow MP, and much in-between: contributions important in establishing a detailed in 2009. “It is vital that we continue to up- on Northern Ireland including from Brendan O’Leary, Martin date our information periodically. This allows McGuinness and Monica McWilliams, roundtables organised by and representative profi le of the us to monitor the changing characteristics and the British Journal of Politics and International Relations on profession”, Professor Charlie Jeffery attitudes of academics and to assess the impact 3-5 April devolution and the UK political economy, special sessions on told Political Studies Association of changing government education policy on REF and Impact (with the REF Panel Chair Colin Hay) and the News. political studies in Higher Education”. impact on political studies of recent higher education policy (continued on page 14) reforms (with former VC and political scientist Roger King), a Europa Hotel new ‘Methods Cafeteria’ hosted by Gerry Stoker to exchange ideas and experience in innovative research methods, a special session on engagement and impact in and on Parliament committee elections 2012 Belfast with John Bercow and his counterpart in the Lords, Baroness d’Souza, over 160 panel sessions refl ecting the diversity At a time when higher education is facing major requested from the Membership Secretary, Sandra and pluralism of political studies in the UK, and of course change and social science appears to be under real McDonagh (on 0191 222 8021 or sandra.mcdonagh@ opportunity to explore one of Europe’s most transformed and pressure, with a serious decline in applications, it is ncl.ac.uk), should be posted to the Political Studies most engaging cities, Belfast. vital that the Political Studies Association fi ghts hard Association at 30 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A for the interests of political studies and this can only 4UE or emailed to [email protected] by noon Further Information be done with a strong and committed Executive. on 29th March. If the number of nominations for You will fi nd further information on the Belfast Conference the post of trustee exceeds the number of vacancies in this edition of Political Studies Association News. I hope This year sees a large number of positions on the an electronic ballot by single transferable vote of you will be able to join us. You will also fi nd in this edition, Association Executive Committee up for election. the whole membership will be held. If more than along with all the latest news from the discipline, a piece by In addition to the position of Honorary Treasurer, one nomination is received for the post of Honorary the Association Vice-Chair, Jacqui Briggs on the work she is a key post that carries with it membership of the Treasurer an electronic ballot by alternative vote of leading on a new education and skills agenda for UK political Association’s Management Committee, vacancies exist the whole membership will be held. studies, including a range of initiatives she is spearheading in for fi ve trustee positions, the varying terms of which connecting university political studies with school students commence on 29th June 2012. The Political Studies Association is committed to with an interest in politics, their teachers and parents. encouraging candidates from a diverse range of There can be few things more important to the future of the Nominations backgrounds. While taking full account of equal discipline than working through schools to ensure students All members should have now received notifi cation opportunities, nominations are particularly welcome continue to choose politics degrees. I hope very much of the vacancies on the Executive and been invited from ethnic minorities and disabled candidates who Association members will give Jacqui every support in her work. to send their nominations to the Returning Offi cer, are currently under-represented on the Executive Professor Paul Carmichael, who is also Honorary Committee. Secretary of the Association. Nomination forms, Voting will open in early April and close by which can be found on the Association’s website or midnight on 31st May.

political studies association news what’s changed in 33 years? Steven Kennedy, Palgrave Macmillan association news profiling the profession: new survey of academics within political studies 01 Longstanding committee elections 2012 01 what’s changed in 33 years? 03 political studies...facing the challenges 04 Association members conference 2012 programme 06 conference 2012: travel information 11 beware! It seems that conference 2012: biographies 12 meet the editors: POLITICS 14 a third of a century policy press discount for members 14 of membership may call to confer political studies association of ireland postgraduate conference 2012 15 trigger a request from teaching social policy for the future 15 contemporary aristotelian studies group conference 15 the editor for your association links reminiscences. dialogue in japan 16 Steven Kennedy, Director Palgrave Macmillan supporting budding politics scholars 16 In my case, not only have I been a member Bigger not Better But a bigger reason by far is the change in specialist groups continuously since 1979 but I have been From a publishing point of view, a large the research culture of the UK since 1979, the politicisation of higher education 17 to every annual conference up to this (though sadly decreasing) proportion of my much professionalised to be sure, but with, in cardiff creative minds 18 year’s which unfortunately coincides with authors have been Association members and, my view, a severe over-emphasis on specialist change within american politics group 19 the International Studies Association in the early days, Association conferences publishing and devaluation - despite recent sport and the ‘Big Society’ 19 meeting in San Diego: even more a were the place where new books would meet talk of impact - of attempts to synthesize sense of regret as Belfast is probably my their audience and key landmarks in the for a wider audience and consolidate new favourite of its many venues (most notably growth of my list. My biggest regret is that as baselines for new generations. This is department news associated for me with Mo Mowlam who I our displays have become bigger, the general reflected too in the pressures on young first met when she was a young lecturer at interest in books has reduced. I remember academics as to what they should write not connectivity - a pioneering new initiative and postgraduate course 19 Newcastle University and last met there). displaying proofs to an enthusiastic reception to mention the pressures that rapidly seem to engaging egypt 20 in 1979 of Multi Party Britain, an excellent prevent many writing anything longer than war studies at 50 21 So what, I have been asked, has changed? As book edited by Henry Drucker, which had a journal article at all. I have actually now taiwan 2012 takes over nottingham blog 21 to the Political Studies Association itself, it become toast by the time it was published lost count of the number of people who have new at northumbria 22 has become hugely bigger, more professional, a few weeks later on the day Margaret told me that they are looking forward to their hull celebrations continue 22 better funded, and now undertakes a range Thatcher’s election gave decisive new life retirement because at last they’ll be able to justin fisher appointed head of social sciences at brunel 22 of activities that no-one would have dreamed to two (or one) party dominance. And start work. new and familiar faces at southampton 23 off back in the 1970s and 80s. But that story more happily in 1983 of the 1st edition of launch of ‘sussex centre for study of corruption’ 24 has been related far better than I could do in our rather more successful collaboration Car to Far east anglia updates 24 Wyn Grant’s 60th anniversary history. Developments in British Politics when I All this, in combination with the increased the connection between david lloyd george and kirsty williams? 25 came away with a list on which some 70-80 globalization of academic life and use of Taking Risks academics had put down their names and English as the lingua franca of teaching engagement My own particular perspective on it has addresses to request inspection copies on and research, is the reason why the key obviously changed over time from my first publication. Today, only a handful of people conferences today both for commissioning programme of engagement 25 exposure at the 1979 conference where I would even be likely to look at a proof copy and research are generally now found beyond greek politics group engages with the media on crisis in greece 26 arrived with a small display stand and a of anything – let alone a new textbook – the range of my (improved) car. That is why learning lessons from intelligence and security 27 handful of books in the boot of my very however exciting and innovative. I shall regretfully not see you in Belfast impact, engagement and dangerous liaisons 28 beat-up car (which would never pass the (though Helen Caunce from my publishing teaching parliament 30 most basic of risk assessments today) Dull Textbooks team - another concept unknown in 1979 and in praise of social democracy 31 knowing hardly anyone to our large display A key part of my motivation in becoming a colleagues from our journals and scholarly nottingham project on uk-china military cooperation 31 space bursting at the seams just to display publisher was my dissatisfaction with the teams will be on hand to hear about your our most recent titles surrounded by many (as I saw it) generally dull and tendentious projects and tell you about ours). old (and new) friends today. I’ve always textbooks available when I was a student But even if the world is now my oyster, the Professor Neil Collins Political Studies Association, Membership Secretary: found the Association a particularly friendly and a desire to make books available that Political Studies Association remains a pearl! Editor Department of Politics, Sandra McDonagh email: [email protected] University of Newcastle, and welcoming association, though I have offered a more critical approach to their Newcastle upon Tyne Registered Charity No. 1071825; Steven Kennedy is the Association’s (to NE1 7RU Registered Company with limited remained forever grateful to the (then also subject matter, introducing a wider range liability in England and Wales, pretty new) Political Studies Association of perspectives to help students form their date) only ever Publisher of the Year and is a Tel: 0191 222 8021 No. 3628986 publisher and director at Palgrave Macmillan Fax: 0191 222 3499 Women’s Group for adopting me as a sort of own views. And perhaps one of the reasons To advertise in this Newsletter, honorary member in the somewhat Hobbesian for any reduced interest is that students and specialising in student paperbacks though the Holly Hardwicke Email [email protected] please contact Sandra McDonagh at Assistant Editor world of my first conference (themed as it their teachers now have a very wide range of views expressed here are entirely his own. Web: www.psa.ac.uk [email protected] Editorial Team email: [email protected] was to commemorate the 300th anniversary such texts (not, of course, just because of my Chief Executive Officer: Helena Djurkovic of his death). efforts at Macmillan) to choose between. association news | 3 political studies ... Wider Community prospects and destinations. The focus upon this area. Another area of focus is in relation We are engaging with the wider community careers and alumni will help us to provide to the creation of a resources database for – our recent Awards Ceremony, held on the a platform for the discipline. Through our teachers. The intention is to investigate App facing the challenges 29th November 2011 (did you catch us colleagues such as Dr John Craig and Steven production, with the possibility of creating on the BBC Parliament Channel?) being a Curtis, we will be pursuing our links with the an App for parents too. Our website presence Jacqui Briggs, Association Vice-Chair manifestation of that. Alongside awards for Higher Education Academy, focusing on the re-teaching and learning continues to grow politicians, journalists, academics and others, value of ‘research’ into teaching and learning. and develop, especially in terms of the we also had an award for our student video In part, this will help colleagues with the Study Politics web pages, under the excellent competition – won by a team from Cheadle teaching and learning of political studies. stewardship of our talented webmaster Given the unprecedented Hulme School. The field was strong and we Pedagogic issues are of increasing importance Professor Richard Topf. are hoping to build upon this in subsequent to our academic colleagues, indeed there is a challenges facing the years and to reach out to the A level cohort burgeoning literature in this area and money The Association continues that will be our future undergraduates and from various quarters to support research, higher education sector, postgraduates. and we are here to provide colleagues with to be a forum for debate the support that they need in terms of the about skills via our and Political Studies in In terms of statistics teaching and learning of politics and also to facilitate their links with bodies such as annual conference, the particular, it is worth – the Association is the HEA. There are, for example, a growing number of modules which focus upon the specialist group on noting the number of currently involved in ‘practice of politics’ where the emphasis is Teaching and Learning, compiling data about upon engaging with political life and not exciting new initiatives just learning about it. Preliminary feedback the resources bank on recruitment to the from Dr Iain MacKenzie at the University of the website and there currently being pursued discipline, and how this Kent, Torrin Clark at De Montfort University, Dr Edwin Bacon at Birkbeck College, the is also the possibility of by the Political Studies relates to recruitment University of London, and Steven Curtis at using highly downloaded in other areas. We are London Metropolitan University highlights Association. Jacqui Briggs, Association Vice-Chair the exciting new initiatives that are being articles in Association pursued in the field. examining closely the journals as teaching In these uncertain times, it is even more important that we Political Studies Association. Our aim is to increase membership in impact of the new continue to stress the value and benefits of a degree in Political as many departments as possible. One possible strategy here might Studying Politics resources. Studies. With this in mind, we are forging forward on a number be a colleague fulfilling a Association-Ambassadorial type-role, able tuition fees regime on Other events that the Political Studies of fronts. To echo our new Chair, Professor Charlie Jeffery, to promote our learned society and encourage people to join. We Association continues to provide are our Other initiatives include, working with the quoted recently in the Times Higher Education, we can remain want to move to a position where we would ask of colleagues ‘How recruitment. workshops aimed at ‘A’ level students. Parliamentary Outreach Service, with the relatively confident, even with higher tuition fees, given ‘... can you possibly not be a member given all that the Political Studies Spearheaded by our fantastic Chief Executive Hansard Society and having a presence at healthy application levels, good graduate employment prospects Association has to offer?’ The “You’d be crazy not to be a member” It is useful, from our perspective, if Officer, Helena Djurkovic, the focus of the the American Political Science Association and many opportunities for academics to prove the “impact” of argument. The wonderful team comprising our Hon Secretary, departments could give some thought as workshops is upon studying Politics at 1 Teaching and Learning Politics Annual their work’ . As Association News has shown in the past, student Professor Paul Carmichael and Sandra McDonagh, have successfully to what they would like from us in terms university. We have already organised a Conference. The focus upon teaching and numbers have remained relatively buoyant for the past few years built up our thriving membership from strength to strength but we are of data, etc. We are also mindful of the number of these and the feedback has been learning activities is also fostered by our (world events, such as the 9/11 terror attacks, the Obama Effect also interested in your ideas regarding recruitment. Key Information Sets or KIS data which extremely positive. These will be expanded close links with the Graduate Network, the and the Arab Spring, alongside domestic affairs, such as more all universities have to publish on their over the forthcoming months and we will future of our discipline. women in politics, devolution, and the Coalition Government, Cutting Edge websites from this September. Part of my move to cover a wider geographic area by have contributed to the continued attraction of political study). The emphasis is upon promoting Political Studies; this is a process remit, as Vice-Chair and in terms of the holding them at various locations within the Reasons for Optimism Now is not the time, however, to become complacent and we have that is being actively driven forward by Charlie Jeffery. The Political Education and Skills agenda, is that we will United Kingdom. Undoubtedly, these remain challenging a number of ongoing and new initiatives to flag up. Studies Association has a new dynamic leadership, we have a new be compiling data from bodies such as UCAS times for the Higher Education sector. The and we believe rationalised committee structure that is currently and HESA. Data released by UCAS on the As well as reaching out to our natural changing regulatory framework for higher Regarding Recruitment being implemented and we also have our continuing and strong 30th January revealed an 8.7 per cent overall constituency, we also have reached out education policy and the increased tuition Here at the Political Studies Association, we are engaged in a links with our publishers, Wiley-Blackwell. In terms of our four key drop in UK university applications. We are to a wider audience via, for example, fees regime are issues that, I am certain, number of new and exciting new developments that we believe will journals, Political Studies, BJPIR, Political Studies Review and recently, currently compiling data looking at what the the aforementioned new student video concern all of us. We are all aware of the help all of us to face the challenges. These are challenging times, now Politics, all four have Thompson Reuters (TR) ranking. We also statistics reveal specifically regarding Politics competition, which saw a healthy number tremendous challenges on the horizon, the certainly, but we do want to send out a positive message to you, have our new Political Insight journal, launched at our Edinburgh applications and we will be revealing our of applications and which will be rolled out Political Studies Association will do all it our members. We are actively promoting Political Studies. We believe Conference in 2010, this too is going from strength to strength and is findings shortly. again this year. As well as data collation, we can to protect our discipline and maintain that we will all gain a great deal from collaboration if we focus upon reaching beyond our traditional journal readership. We are publishing are pursuing links with examination bodies; morale in these uncertain times. In spite of the Association’s campaign and strategies to perpetuate the study quality academic journals at the cutting-edge of research. Alumni contact is currently being made with Edexcel, the unchartered waters ahead, there remain a of Politics. We all have a great deal to benefit from and through Alongside my colleagues, Dr Lisa Harrison and AQA, OCR, Modern Studies Boards in Scotland, great many reasons for optimism too! a process of greater collaboration, to pursue our common goal of Under the trusty stewardship of our invaluable Treasurer, Professor Dr Lyndsey Harris, we will also be working on Citizenship curricula bodies. Links are also promoting Political Studies. As part of this process, the focus is upon John Benyon, the Political Studies Association remains in a financially destinations data through looking at careers being followed in relation to the ESRC’s how the Political Studies Association may raise membership within strong position. There are no grounds for complacency but we are set and alumni. We are compiling a database of Quantitative Methods Initiative, looking 1 ‘Re-engage public to help fill growing Politics Departments. Some departments have quite a substantial to meet the new challenges head-on. Working closely with you, our alumni – both famous and not so famous – specifically at the post-16 maths curriculum democratic deficit’, Times Higher Education, association membership amongst their staff team whereas others membership, this co-operation and collaboration will enable us to do developing compelling stories about career and whether Politics could be linked into 26th January. 2012: 16. have relatively few people within their midst who are members of the this.

4 | association news association news | 5 annual conference programme Tuesday 3rd April 2012

13.00-14.00 In Europe, and in the context of economic crisis, the tendency to take a nationalist stance can be seen in the consolidation of a wave of nationalist, state and identity-based nd Monday 2 April 2012 discourses by most political parties, and in the rise in governmental use of legal instruments 12.30-17.30 Registration Copenhagen 2 to place limits on diversity (mainly in opposition to Islam). These moves have contributed to the rise of negative public opinion against immigrants and against cultural diversity. 12.30-17.30 Political Studies Association Executive Committee Copenhagen 1 In this context, state practices seem to be based on an assumption that states have no 18.00-19.00 Welcome Drinks Penthouse Suite obligations to non-native citizens who reside within their territory (a position which has 19.00- Optional Bus Tour of Historical Belfast with Dr Kristian Brown been characterized by Brian Barry as an “anything goes” approach to the citizens of other (University of Ulster) countries). I have previously (2010) theorised state behaviour by putting myself in the position of the policy-maker and asking: what information resources (positions, perspectives, discourses, target groups, etc.) does the policy-maker have or need to have for ethically orienting migration policies? I have subsequently built on this (forthcoming) through rd applying Joseph Carens’ critical thinking/viability nexus to argue that we cannot defend Tuesday 3 April 2012 an ethical code without having some considerations as to the restrictions and institutions 08.00-18.00 Registration Exhibition Hall that can ensure compliance. In this paper I will build on this work by developing a viable 09.30-11.00 Session 1 proposal for an ethical code on migration policy for the EU and European states. 09.30-12.30 Graduate Student Workshop TBD Studying Electoral Competition in Multilevel Contexts: Methodological Challenges in 13.00-14.00 Lunch Break Cross-National Research 13.00-14.00 Political Studies Association Questions & Answers Grand 1 11.00-11.30 Tea/Coffee (Exhibition Hall) Exhibition Hall Chair: Professor Gerry Stoker (University of Southampton). Speaker: Professor Colin Hay (University of Sheffield), Chair, Politics Sub-Panel, REF. 11.30-13.00 Opening Plenary Grand 1 & 2 Defending Politics, Politicians and Political Science Professor Hay will explain the guidance with a particular focus on impact. More generally he With the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP; Prof. Matthew Flinders (University of Sheffield); will explore procedures for the REF exercise and answer any questions you may have about and Mr Peter Riddell, Institute for Government the assessment criteria that have now been agreed. Colin may be joined by some colleagues in order to give you access to all the latest thinking.

13.00-14.00 Book Launch Exhibition Hall Professor Matthew Flinders (2012) 14.00-15.30 Session 2 Defending Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press 15.30-16.00 Tea/Coffee Exhibition Hall 16.00-17.30 Session 3 13.00-14.00 The Political Theory Specialist Group Address: Grand 3 Politics as a Humane Science 16.00-17.30 Political Studies Association Participatory and Deliberative Democracy Specialist Group Penthouse Suite Speaker: Prof. Preston T. King (Morehouse College, Atlanta University) Address: Localizing Development: Does Participation Work? Aristotle wrote of ‘man’ as a zoon politikon. Politics has also been fingered as the ‘art Speaker: Dr Vijayendra Rao, The World Bank Institute of the possible’. This raises the question of the scientific nature of politics. This raises too the question of its constructivist or architectural character. Politics is not normally The idea that fostering citizen participation is central to resolving problems of good accommodated as a ‘science’. Yet it is a piece of architecture that we build (sometimes governance and development is one that has acquired tremendous force in recent shabbily, sometimes not) and inhabit as sensibly as we can. Does the ‘non-scientific’ nature times. It is the unifying theme which underlies many different approaches towards of politics render it inferior? Or does its constructivist character elevate it to the status of localizing development whether in the form of community based/driven projects or the art? Should politics, with Bagehot, be aligned with physics? Or is the affinity closer to such decentralization of government decision making. as musical composition and orchestration? Is Politics merely to do, following Lasswell, with who gets what, when, how? Or is it a matter of variably resolving conflicting perceptions of Community participation in the development process is expected to build demand for the good? The argument that follows makes a case for Politics as rational invention inclusive and effective local governance, empower poor and vulnerable groups, improve the (overlapping in a degree the arguments of figures like Winch and Collingwood) that attains delivery of public services, and increase access to resources and livelihood opportunities its apogee more as humanism than scientism. - particularly for the most marginalized. In line with this, both governments and donors have invested very substantial resources in programs and projects which use participatory approaches to build local institutions. The paper examines the conceptual foundations of 13.00-14.00 The Ethnopolitics Specialist Group Address: Grand 4 this approach and builds an analytical framework in which civic participation is viewed as Speaker: Prof Ricard Zapata-Barrero (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain) a potential solution to specific civil society, market, and government failures. It then uses this framework to accomplish two things. First, it reviews the evidence on the efficacy of In recent years there has been a significant growth in migration to developed industrial participatory approaches to problems of development. It then identifies the ways in which countries, which has led to major policy activity around the issue of migration at a observed policy choices for inducing participation are intimately shaped and constrained by national, regional and international level. This policy discussion has tended to be based the historical, socio-cultural, and political context. In assembling the evidence, the paper on an underlying assumption of the ‘national interest’ and focused on arguments around takes a broad multi-disciplinary view, drawing on the evidence to provide key lessons for security, welfare and identity. policy.

6| association news association news | 7 Tuesday 3rd April 2012 Wednesday 4th April 2012 The paper therefore explicitly relates to the central conference themes of citizenship and how they interact with each other and political elites in developing countries and 11.00-12.30 Political Studies Association Journals Reception - Meet the Editors The Library Bar moreover the theme of ‘the people’s politics’ as the paper surveys and reviews a number of Come and consult with the editors of Political Studies, BJPIR and Political Studies approaches that have enabled citizens in developing countries to engage in the political Review - and enjoy some light refreshment at the same time! system in new and innovative ways. However, the paper will elucidate which approaches Here is an opportunity for anybody starting out on their publishing career of ‘the people’s politics’ in developing countries have been successful, which have not and to speak directly to the editorial teams and hear about publishing in the the reasons for this. Association journals. 16.00-17.30 The Political Quarterly Roundtable Discussion on Northern Ireland Library Bar Find out: Sponsored by The Political Quarterly what it takes to have a paper published in one of these prestigious journals; what ‘The Peace Process in an Age of Uncertainty’ guarantees can be made with regard to the REF; what the main dos and don’ts Chair: Prof. E. Kaufmann, (Birkbeck University of London) are for inexperienced authors; how authors should handle and interpret the review Malachi O’Doherty, journalist/writer/broadcaster process; whether the journals commission articles and special issues; what themes Dr Katy Hayward, (Queen’s University, Belfast) and topics are in prospect; how the journals are rated within the discipline. Conall McDevitt, South Belfast MLA and Regional Development Spokesman for the SDLP

This special Political Quarterly panel brings together Northern Ireland politicians, journalists Learn about all this and more when you come to Meet with the Editors of the and academics to discuss the future of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland in a period Association’s journals on Wednesday 4th April in the Library Bar from 11.00am to of fiscal retrenchment and endemic dissident republicanism. A special issue (March 2012) 12.30pm of The Political Quarterly on this theme will be freely available at the seminar. The Political Quarterly and the Birkbeck Centre for British Politics and Public Life hosted a special roundtable seminar entitled ‘Northern Ireland: Fragile Peace in an Age of Austerity,’ at 12.30-14.00 Lunch Birkbeck College, University of London, on 14 October 2011. The meeting brought together more than 25 leading academics and journalists from Northern Ireland, the Republic of 12.30-14:00 Political Studies Association Keynote Plenary Ireland and mainland Britain who work on Northern Ireland. The roundtable, which took Consociational Theory & Powersharing in Northern Ireland place in Birkbeck’s Council Room, was productive and often contentious, taking stock of Chair: Professor Monica McWilliams (University of Ulster) the peace process as of late 2011. It explored the future of the political and constitutional settlement in Northern Ireland in light of growing dissident and paramilitary activity and cuts in public spending, as well as economic turmoil in the South. Many participants Speakers: Prof. John McGarry (Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada); contributed articles which formed a special issue of The Political Quarterly which will be Prof. Brendan O’Leary (University of Pennsylvania, USA); published in late March 2012 and made available at the Political Studies Association panel. Prof. Rupert Taylor (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) & Prof. John Our panellists will comment on the contributions in the special issue and their thoughts on Cash, (School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia) the future of the Peace Process. For further details, see: http://www.csbppl.com/events/ northern-ireland-fragile-peace-in-an-age-of-austerity/ 12.30-14.00 Specialist Group Business Meetings (By Request) 18.00-19.00 Grand 1 & 2 Political Studies Association Annual Leonard Schapiro Lecture (Sponsored by German Politics Amsterdam 1 Government and Opposition) Political Thought Dublin 1 Speaker: Professor Brendan O’Leary Executive Politics and Government Dublin 2 The Federalization of Iraq and the Break-up of Sudan British Idealism Copenhagen 1 19.00-20.00 Reception sponsored by Government and Opposition Penthouse Suite Rhetoric and Politics Copenhagen 2 20.00- Optional Reception and Tour of Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont Meet at Reception French Politics Berlin 1 Italian Politics Berlin 2 Participatory and Deliberative Democracy Berlin 3 Women and Politics Amsterdam 2 th Wednesday 4 April 2012 Interpretive Political Science Grand 5 08.30-18.00 Registration Exhibition Hall Greek Politics Specialist Group Grand 4 Irish Politics Specialist Group Grand 3 09.00-10.30 Session 4 Conservatives and Conservatism Specialist Group Rotunda 10.30-11.00 Tea/Coffee Exhibition Hall 10.30-11:00 Book Launch Exhibition Hall 14.00-15.30 Session 6 Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan (University of Ulster) and Dr Simon Lightfoot, PLACE (2012) eds, Teaching Politics and International Relations. Basingstoke: Palgrave McMillan 14.00-15.30 British Journal of Politics and International Relations Roundtable (1) Grand 1 11.00-12.30 Session 5 Devolution in the UK: Process, Prospects and Pitfalls Chair: Dr. Alistair Clark (Newcastle University) 11.00-12.30 Political Studies Association Workshop - Research Methods Cafeteria Exhibition Hall With Professor Gerry Stoker (University of Southampton). A chance to share Speakers: Prof. Rick Wilford (Queen’s University, Belfast); latest innovations in research. We will have innovators (your Association Prof. Charlie Jeffrey (University of Edinburgh); colleagues) sat at tables and you will have an opportunity to join them to pick Prof. Jonathon Bradbury (Swansea University); and their brains if you are interested in getting an insight into how to apply a range Prof. Arthur Aughey (University of Ulster) of the latest approaches to your research.

8| association news association news | 9 Wednesday 4th April 2012 Thursday 5th April 2012 14.00-15.30 Political Studies Association Italian Specialist Group Roundtable: Penthouse Suite 12.30-13.30 Lunch Forza, Italia: come ripartire dopo Berlusconi 12.30-13.30 Irish Politics Specialist Group Address Grand 1 [Come on, Italy!: How to start again after Berlusconi] Chair: Professor Jonathan Tonge (University of Liverpool) Speaker: Bill Emmott, Independent Writer and consultant on international affairs Speaker: Dr Kevin McNamara: Discussants: Gianfranco Pasquino, Chair of the Italian Political Science Association; In Defence of Politics and the Labour Reassurance Tendancy Daniele Albertazzi, co-convenor of the Italian Politics Specialist Group; Jim Newell, 13.30-15.00 Session 10 co-editor of the Bulletin of Italian Politics 13:30-15:00 Political Studies Association Workshop - Engagement & Impact Penthouse Suite The roundtable will focus on the latest book of former Economist editor, Bill Emmott, With the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow Forza, Italia: Come ripartire dopo Berlusconi [Come on, Italy! How to start again House of Lords Speaker- Baroness D’Souza after Berlusconi]. The book’s central theme is Bill’s journey to find La Buona Italia, 15.00-15.30 Tea/Coffee Exhibition Hall as distinct from La Mala Italia, and to see what can be done to unleash more of 15.30-16.30 Political Studies Association Closing Plenary Lecture Penthouse Suite the good. The book’s subtitle reflects both the role that Silvio Berlusconi had in What should a 21st Century Parliament look like? stimulating its writing and the reforms which, in the author’s view, are necessary Speaker: John Bercow to enable Italy to ‘start again’ once Berlusconi leaves the political scene. The focus 16.30 Closing Reception Penthouse Suite on Berlusconi will enable Bill to address at least two of the issues central to the conference theme: ‘ethics and politics’ and ‘leaders and authority; citizens and 16.30 Conference Closes consumerism’. First Bill will present his analysis of the Italian situation and outline 17.30 Public Records Office of Northern Ireland Meet at Reception the main themes in his book. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the official archive for Northern Ireland. The tour will provide participants with an introduction to the 15.30-16.00 Tea/Coffee Exhibition Hall wide range of historical, social and cultural records available at PRONI. In addition 16.00-17.30 Session 7 there will also be an opportunity to view the exhibition – ‘A Century of Change, 16.00-17.30 British Journal of Politics and International Relations Roundtable (2) Grand 1 Conflict and Transformation’- which is currently running and which looks at the The State of the UK Political Economy period 1911-2011 through original documents and artefacts that are held within PRONI’s archives. Chair: Dr. Andrew Baker (Queen’s University, Belfast) 17.30 Titanic Belfast (£12.95) Meet at Reception Speakers: Prof. Colin Hay (University of Sheffield) 19.00 Late Night Art (£6.00) Meet at Reception Prof. Andrew Gamble (University of Cambridge) (Walking Tour)

17.30-18.30 Drinks Reception - Sponsored by British Journal of Politics and International Library Bar Relations Roundtable & Wiley-Blackwell

17.30-18.30 Political Studies Association Annual General Meeting Grand 1

18.30-19.00 Political Studies Association Annual Conference Dinner – Pre-Dinner Drinks Reception Belfast City Hall conference 2012: travel information

19.00-22.00 Political Studies Association Annual Conference Dinner The conference will be held in Belfast’s Europa Hotel. Its city terminus is the Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street and it also Pre-dinner Introduction: Belfast City Hall centre location is ideal for both the conference and for evening services Laganside Buscentre. Peter Riddell, Institute for Government entertainment. The hotel sits next door to the glorious Grand Please visit the website of Translink, www.translink.co.uk, the public After Dinner Speaker: Opera House. The historic Crown Bar, the National Trust’s only transport company in Northern Ireland for further information on Martin McGuinness MP, MLA, Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Assembly public house property, beckons from just across the road. And buses and trains. then you’ve got shops, shops and more shops, several award- winning restaurants, high-end entertainment and the business Taxis district – all within walking distance. Value Cabs www.valuecabs.co.uk Tel: 028 9080 9080 fonaCAB www.fonacab.com Tel: 028 9033 3333 Thursday 5th April 2012 Getting to Northern Ireland and Belfast Citi Cabs NI www.citicabsni.com Tel:028 9066 5566

08.30 Registration Exhibition Hall From the Airports Further Information 09.00-10.30 Session 8 George Best Belfast City airport is approximately ten minutes’ drive Go To Belfast - from the city centre by taxi. The fare should cost between £10-12. the Official Tourism Website for Belfast, Northern Ireland 09.00-10.30 Political Studies Association Update Amsterdam 1 Belfast International Airport is a 20-30 minute taxi journey from Advice on getting here and getting around the city; accommodation; Policy Developments in Higher Education the city centre and the fare would cost approx £25-30. Please visit things to do; places to go and people to meet. Chair: Helena Djurkovic, Political Studies Association Valuecabs www.valuecabs.co.uk for more information on taxi services. Go To Belfast - Photostream Speakers: Profs. Roger King and Mark Olsen George Best Belfast City Airport is also regularly serviced by Check out some of the iconic images of Belfast in advance of your Airport Express bus 600, which picks up at 20 minute intervals and arrival. 10.30-11.00 Tea/Coffee Exhibition Hall terminates at the Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street (which is Belfast Visitors and Convention Bureau 11.00-12.30 Session 9 next door to the conference venue). The fare is £2 for an adult single Information tailored for conference delegates. or £3 for a return ticket. The International Airport is serviced by Discover Northern Ireland 11.00-12.30 Campaign for Social Science Library Bar Airport Express 300, which departs from outside the Arrivals terminal Official Site of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for those of you Chair: Helena Djurkovic, Association and Ivor Gabor (University of Bedfordshire) at fifteen minute intervals (with less frequency in the evening). intending to stay on a little longer after the conference and enjoy the Followed by Lunch Reception The 30-40 minute journey costs £7 single and £10 return. The bus all that Northern Ireland has to offer.

10| association news association news | 11 annual conference 2012: Annual Leonard Schapiro Lecture

Brendan O’Leary advised Irish, British, and American government ministers biographies and offi cials and the Irish-American Morrison delegation during the Northern Ireland peace process, appearing as an Day 1: Tuesday 3rd April 2012 Brendan O’Leary is Lauder Professor of Political Science expert witness before the US Congress. Opening Plenary at the University of Pennsylvania & Professor of Political Between 2003 and 2009 he was an international Science at Queen’s University Belfast. constitutional advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government O’Leary was on the faculty of the London School of in Iraq, assisting in preparation for the negotiation of the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP and Pensions where he set a clear vision for reform of the Economics and Political Science between 1983 and 2003, Transitional Administrative Law (2004) and the Constitution welfare state, and established a nationwide debate to fi nd a where he was Professor of Political Science, head of its of Iraq (2005). In 2009-2010 he was the Senior Advisor on David Blunkett was elected as the Member of Parliament long-term solution to pensions challenges. Government Department, and an elected Academic Governor. Power-Sharing in the Standby Team of the Mediation Support for Sheffi eld Brightside in 1987. Following the 1997 David was made a member of the specially convened He is the author, co-author or co-editor of twenty books Unit of the Department of Political Affairs of the United Labour election victory, David became Secretary of State for Speaker’s Conference in 2008. In addition, David continues and collections, and has authored or co-authored over 150 Nations. Among other questions he and his colleagues Education and Employment. With Labour returned in 2001, to take a direct interest in cyber security – including refereed articles and book chapters. worked on Sudan, both on North-South relations and the he became Home Secretary, where he dealt with counter- as Honorary Chair of the Information Systems Security O’Leary was a political advisor to the British Labour Shadow Darfur mediation in Qatar. He lives in Philadelphia with his terrorism and the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, Association (ISSA-UK) Advisory Board. He continues to Cabinet on Northern Ireland between 1987 and 1997, and wife Dr Lori Salem. crime and antisocial behaviour, managing immigration and undertake work on an international basis on welfare reform, asylum, policing, criminal justice, prison and probation on internet security and data processing, and maintains his services, and citizenship. long-standing interest in education, skills and training. David is involved with a large number of local, national and th David took a leading role in fi ghting Labour’s 3rd term international charities, and is a regular contributor to the Day 2: Wednesday 4 April 2012 election campaign in spring 2005, and from May to British media through newspapers and journals, radio and After Dinner Speaker November 2005, he was made Secretary of State for Work television.

Martin McGuinness played a key role in the talks that led to the historic Rt Hon Peter Riddell 40 years, split between the Financial Times and The Times, MP MLA, Deputy First Minister agreement with Dr Paisley and the DUP on March 26th, 2007. Director of the Institute for Government where he had been their domestic political analyst and commentator. He has been a regular broadcaster, has written He was elected MP for the Mid-Ulster constituency in 1997 Peter took up the Directorship at the Institute for seven books and delivered frequent lectures. He chairs the Martin McGuinness was born in Derry in 1950. He joined and was re-elected to this seat in 2001, 2005 and in 2010. Government on 1st January 2012. He was previously a Senior Hansard Society, a non-partisan charity which promoters Sinn Féin in 1970 and is an elected member of the party’s He has held an Assembly seat for the same constituency Fellow at the Institute and divided his time here with his understanding of Parliament and representative democracy. Ard Comhairle (National Executive). In 1982 Martin since 1998. Mr McGuinness became Minister for Education work for the Detainee Inquiry, a privy counsellor panel He will be stepping down from this role in the next few McGuinness was elected to the Stormont Assembly and was in the devolved Executive in November 1999 and held this looking at whether the British Government was implicated in months. Peter has received two honorary doctorates of elected as a Sinn Féin Negotiator in the Forum elections in post until suspension of devolution in October 2002. Mr the improper treatment of detainees held by other countries literature, is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, an May 1996. From 1990 he was involved in early discussions McGuinness was appointed as deputy First Minister on 8th (a role from which he resigned at the end of last year to Honorary Fellow of the Political Studies Association and was with the Irish and British Governments as Sinn Fein Chief May 2007 and was re-elected to this post in May 2011. concentrate on the IfG). At the Institute, he co-authored one of the fi rst recipients of the President’s medal of the Negotiator. He led the Sinn Fein negotiating team in the He married his wife Bernie in 1974. They live in Derry and reports on Transitions and Ministerial Effectiveness and has British Academy. He was appointed to the Privy Council in talks chaired by Senator Mitchell which commenced in have four children, two girls and two boys. He also has fi ve been closely involved in work on political and constitutional July 2010 in order to serve on the Detainee Inquiry. September 1997 and which, seven months later, culminated grandchildren. Mr McGuinness has a keen interest in sport, reform. Until mid-2010, Peter was a journalist for nearly in the Good Friday Agreement. More recently, Mr McGuinness walking and literature, particularly poetry.

Professor Matthew Flinders the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sydney. He has published over one hundred th Matthew Flinders was born in London in 1972. Educated journal articles and book chapters and his books include Day 3: Thursday 5 April 2012 at St Catherine’s and then St Joseph’s, he read Modern The Politics of Accountability (2001), Multi-Level Governance Closing Plenary Lecture European Studies at Loughborough University (1991-1994) (2004), Delegated Governance and the British State (2008) and completed a Ph.D. in governance, public policy and [awarded the W.J.M. Mackenzie Prize for the Best Book in legislative studies at the University of Sheffi eld (1995- Political Science], The Oxford Handbook of British Politics Rt Hon John Bercow 1999). After holding a series of research positions he was (2009), Democratic Drift (2010) and Defending Politics Speaker of House of Commons, UK then became a member of the International Development appointed to lectureship at the University of Sheffi eld in (2012, all Oxford University Press). In 2011 he was made an Select Committee and served as co-Chair of the All party 2000 (Senior Lecturer 2003-2005, Reader 2005-2009) and Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences. Parliamentary group on Burma, vice-Chair of the APG on the was appointed Professor of Parliamentary Government & Prof. Flinders is a regulator contributor to a number of On 22nd June 2009 John Bercow was elected 157th Speaker prevention of genocide, Africa and Sudan. He was Secretary Governance on 1st January 2009. newspapers including The Times, The Guardian and The of the House of Commons. A former national Chairman of the All Party group on Human Rights and established the In 2002 he was awarded the Harrison Prize by the Political Times Higher. In 2011 he wrote and presented a three-part of the Federation of Conservative Students and London All Party group on Brain Tumours. In September 2007 he was Studies Association for the best paper in Political Studies, series for BBC Radio 4 entitled ‘In Defence of Politics’ that Borough Councillor, he was elected Member of Parliament appointed by the Government to lead a review of services in 2004 he became the fi rst recipient of the Richard Rose attracted a listening audience in excess of two-and-a-half for Buckingham in May 1997 as a Conservative, serving on for children and young people with speech, language Prize, during 2005-2006 he held a Leverhulme Research million people. the front benches as spokesman for Education & Employment and communication needs. Appointed to the Speaker’s Fellowship and a Visiting Academic Fellowship within the and Home Affairs. He was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary Conference on Parliamentary Representation in November Cabinet Offi ce. During 2010 he acted as an advisor to Professor Flinders is married with four children. He plays to the Treasury in 2001 then Shadow Minister for Work 2008 he became Chair of the Conference on becoming the Government of Thailand on behalf of the Foreign and rugby for Sheffi eld Tigers Rugby Union Football Club and is & Pensions in 2002 and from 2003 to 2004 as Shadow Speaker. Married to Sally, they are proud parents to three Commonwealth Offi ce and also held a Visiting Fellowship in an active member of Dark Peak Fell Runners. Secretary of State for International Development. He young children. 12 | association news association news | 7 association news | 13 meet the editors: POLITICS political studies association of ireland postgraduate conference 2012 POLITICS is edited at Newcastle University by Martin Coward and Kyle Grayson. The ethos of POLITICS is the dissemination of timely, research-led refl ections on 22nd-23rd June, National University of Ireland, Maynooth the state of the art, the state of the world and the state of disciplinary pedagogy. Call for Papers

The PSAI Postgraduate Conference 2012 will be hosted at NUI politics and international relations, not just those relating to the POLITICS welcomes 3 types of articles: Why publish in POLITICS? Maynooth on 22nd and 23rd June. The headline theme is ‘Political conference’s headline theme, and not just those with an Irish Institutions: Continuity and Change’. In what ways have political dimension. ❖ Concise discussions of state of the art research in progress ❖ Publishes timely, research-led refl ections on the state of the art institutions held on to their past traditions, customs and rituals? (up to 4000 words maximum). These articles might represent and/or contemporary events. How are they currently responding to calls for political reform? Please forward paper and panel proposals to the conference early formulations of hypotheses, preliminary arguments, initial ❖ ISI ranked from 2012; However, as is the tradition of the PSAI Postgraduate Conference, organiser, Claire McGing, by 13th April to: presentations of research fi ndings or critical discussions of the ❖ Two formats: concise statements of up to 4000 words; and longer, we also welcome paper and panel proposals in any other area of [email protected] state of the art in a given fi eld. sustained refl ections of up to 6000 words. ❖ Research-led refl ections on contemporary events in politics or ❖ Encourages submission of articles responding to the pedagogical international relations (up to 6000 words maximum). Such articles challenges of learning and teaching in the fi eld of politics and draw upon - and refer back to - state of the art research in order international studies. to refl ect on contemporary events. ❖ Timely treatment of articles: on average publishing within 6-12 teaching social policy for the future ❖ Theoretically informed refl ections on the pedagogical challenges of months of submission. learning and teaching in politics and international studies (either ❖ A large audience: print copies distributed to the entire 20 April 2012, University of Edinburgh 4000 or 6000 words). membership of the PSA, accessible electronically through Wiley Blackwell Online, and available via over 3,500 library One Day Conference Special Issues and/or Sections: subscriptions. As higher education enters a new era of high student fees, methods teaching; new subject benchmarks; work placements We welcome proposals for special issues and/or sections. ❖ Online presence to improve impact and engagement. new expectations and agendas on employability and skills, the and employability; the ’how and what’ of teaching social policy. Such proposals should include a rationale for publication, abstracts of teaching of social policy deserves new scrutinity. This includes The conference is designed to stimulate thought and discussion papers to be included and an indication of an expected delivery date. looking at how new generations of students are taught, what they through break-out sessions, and is intended to act as an initial are taught and the skills they will need to acquire. This one-day stimulus for a series of workshops across the UK over the next conference gives social policy academics a chance to consider eighteen months. Further details can be found at: the state of the discipline and what may need to be done to http://www.social-policy.org.uk/TLconference.html ensure that the subject increases its attraction for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It will present results from a recent Please register at: profi ling the policy press discount survey on social policy teaching in the UK commissioned by the www.socialpolicy.ed.ac.uk/conferences/spateaching Social Policy Association and address key issues such as research The registration deadline is 6th April 2012. profession for members (continued from front cover) Collaboration in public policy and practice: Perspectives on boundary Responding Quickly and Effectively spanners is by Paul Williams, contemporary aristotelian studies group In the current situation of far-reaching change to higher education policy, the profession needs the survey to be Reader in Public Management and 2nd Annual Conference, University of Nottingham, 18th July, 2012 successful. The Chair stressed “it is essential that we hear Collaboration at the Cardiff School of from as broad a range of academics as possible, including Management. Plenary Speaker Aristotle and Gadamer; Aristotle and Heidegger, Aristotle and young members of the profession, and those who are not 18 | association news Professor Eugene Garver (Yale Law School), author of Confronting Education; Aristotle and Management; members of the PSA”. The survey is entirely anonymous About the book: Collaborative working is an established Aristotle’s Ethics: Ancient and Modern Morality (University of Aristotle and Utopianism, etc., etc. and will take only a short time to complete. The aggregate feature of the public, business and third sector environments, Chicago Press, 2006) and Aristotle’s Politics: Living Well and Living Proposals from postgraduate research students are welcome. fi ndings will be analysed and published in a form that is but its effectiveness can be hampered by complex structural Together (University of Chicago Press, 2012). accessible to all respondents. and personal variants. This original book explores the The fi nal deadline for submission of proposals is30th April, infl uence of agency through the role of individual actors in Call for Papers 2012. Early submissions are preferred. collaborative working processes, known as boundary spanners. The 2nd Annual Conference of the Contemporary Aristotelian Participants may also be interested in attending or presenting Further information can be found here: Studies Group (CAS) will take place at The Helmsley (Staff Club), at the 6th Annual Conference of the International Society for http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?ISB=9781847428479 University of Nottingham, on Wednesday, 18th July, 2012. MacIntyrean Enquiry (ISME), which is scheduled to take place at Recently elected the same venue from Thursday 19th July to Saturday 21st July, Academician by the Further information can be found here: Papers relating to any aspect of contemporary Aristotelian studies 2012. Academy of Social http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?ISB=9781847428479 are welcome. E.g. Aristotle and Continental Political Thought; Sciences The book is published by The Policy Press and is available to Aristotle and Critical Theory; Aristotle and Poststructuralism; For more information please contact Tony Burns at: PSA members at 30% discount by using the subject code Aristotle and Political Ideologies; Aristotle and Natural Rights; [email protected] and Kelvin Knight at: Charles Raab POPSA11. Aristotle and Cosmopolitanism; Aristotle and hermeneutics; [email protected]

14| association news call to confer | 15 dialogue in japan the politicisation Ilan Barron, Durham University of higher education In the first week of October 2011, it was my privilege to attend the Japanese Political Studies Association’s (JPSA) annual conference as an ambassador of the

Ilan Barron Association.

This was my first time in Japan and although I had studied Different Approaches Japanese history as an undergraduate student I was not sure Learning about this philosopher was especially interesting since it what to expect, and I speak no Japanese. However, the paper provided additional insights into my own critique of International presentation and following discussion went very well. My paper Relations (IR) and of how IR constitutes itself as a subject that addressed the framing of International Relations as a distinct has ostensible universal validity. Yet, as I learned, IR is not defined academic enterprise. I was asked many challenging questions and in Japan in the same was as it is done in the United States or the found the entire experience to be exceptionally helpful for my UK. In Japan IR and Political Science traditionally have come from research. While the discussion ensued, it became exceptionally Law and History, and so their approach to international relations is obvious how those of us who live in the English-speaking world considerably different from that in the English-speaking world. The take for granted the extent to which English has become the difference in how IR is approached in Japan as opposed to in the international language of academia. United States, for example, is great, especially when we consider that Kenneth Waltz’ Man, the State and War is not translated into The date for my presentation at the JPSA was Saturday 9th October. Japanese, and his Theory of International Politics was only very I arrived the night before and met Professor Kunihiro Wakamatsu. recently translated into Japanese (April 2010). He had organised almost everything regarding my “exchange” visit to the JPSA and was especially helpful. Having already practiced my There is certainly a need for greater intercultural dialogue in the presentation in Tokyo, I was more relaxed for my JPSA panel, which, social and political sciences. Our subjects are often approached as The notion that Higher and academics who have been actively pernicious effect, putting HE institutions in unfortunately was first thing in the morning since I had to fly back if they have either universal applicability, or carry the potential for involved in debating and campaigning about the politically-created position of chasing to the UK from Narita airport that night. Much as in Tokyo, I found universality. Yet such presumptions ignore the importance of local Education is politicised is the current raft of changes being ushered in funding-focused ‘bums on seats’ rather the discussion to be helpful. Most interestingly, perhaps, was learning context and different intellectual and political histories in setting nothing new. However, in a to the tertiary sector. These issues include: than looking after quality and improving from one of my co-panellists, Professor Atsushi Shibasaki, about the up research programmes. These exchange programmes with the JPSA the impact of student fees, changes in the educational experience. In a glimpse of work of Tomonaga Sanjuro. Sanjuro was a philosopher in Japan in the and other political studies associations offer the opportunity to genuine attempt to engage funding, the recent White Paper, and its the damage already done to the diversity late 19th century through to the middle of the 20th century. He wrote widen our knowledge of our own subjects and research programs by policy makers, journalists impact on students (particularly those from of programmes available, it was observed on a variety of subjects. He opposed plans to build a memorial arch seeing how people from different countries and cultures think about a widening participation background); and that over 5,000 courses have already been in Tokyo celebrating the Japanese victory over Russia in 1905, and similar topics. I am grateful for the Political Studies Association to and the audiences with the impact this has on the character of cut from UCAS. The ‘selling off’ of HE and examined the influence in Japan of English and German philosophy. have supported my exchange trip to the JPSA and I look forward to whom we would wish to have contemporary HE. To this end, we invited a burdening future generation with debt was He eventually came to inquire into what the basis should be for developing the contacts that I made in Japan. range of journalists and over 20 MPs from referred to as ‘intergenerational mugging’. Japanese philosophy. dialogue with, the Media and across the political spectrum. Politics Group (MPG) took One Change Chaired by Stephen Jukes (Bournemouth Panellists were also asked to reflect on the issue of the Politicisation Media School) and Heather Savigny (MPG), the one issue that they would change if supporting budding politics scholars of Higher Education (HE) to the event brought together a group of they were able to alter the current system. academics who have engaged in public Propositions included the introduction of The Annual Conference 2012 in Belfast will host many international Isaac Frimpong is President of the student Political Studies Association Westminster. discussions about the current state of democratic governance structures within participants, some on ‘exchange’ with ‘sister’ associations where the and will be speaking on ‘Deepening Democracy in Africa: The Role UK Higher Education. The discussion was academic institutions, enabling them to Association has developed reciprocal relationships, and some are of the Political Scientist’. Owusu Afriyie Marian has written for the Funded through the specialist group wide ranging, dealing across the issues contribute and fight legislative changes from sponsored scholars who would not otherwise be able to attend. student newspaper and will speak on ‘Women and Politics in Africa’. activities competition, the MPG hosted an and problems created by league tables and ‘within’. Also suggested was the scrapping afternoon workshop in Committee Room 5 the way in which these generate greater of the White Paper, and improved efforts to Political Studies Association’s Sub-committee on International Both are B.A. students in the Department of History and Political of the House of Commons. The aim of the layers of bureaucracy, with neither need nor make the University a truly public space – Relations (now part of a new Sub-committee on Member Services) Studies. workshop was to have a public discussion purpose. The NSS was cited as a particular one where the local community can engage, worked last year to establish a link with the student Political Studies around two key themes: the current state example of institutional bureaucracy. Points in whatever form they choose. There was Association at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology of HE; and what a sustainable future HE raised included the lack of consultation general consensus that access to a University in Kumasi, Ghana. Increasingly labyrinthine visa requirements made might look like. with students on the need for the NSS, education is a right for all, irrespective of participation impossible last year, so fingers crossed this time! We the usefulness of the metrics used, and background, rather than a privilege to be hope that members will be able to welcome two exceptional student Key Issues whether students actually took any notice conferred on the select few. Panellists also political scientists whose work will lend a rare African dimension to our The rationale behind the event was to bring of the results. The marketisation of HE was noted concern that while cuts to Humanities proceedings. Marian Owusu Afriyie Isaac Frimpong together policy makers, journalists, citizens widely noted as having had a particularly and Arts teaching was unlikely to mean the

16 | association links specialist groups | 17 end of the teaching of English and History at Oxbridge, it may lead Freedman argued that once the inner contradictions of the funding change within sport and the to the end of such subjects at institutions more focused on widening model of the White Paper are played-out, political and public support participation. for the government HE policy will wane. This could be as soon as american politics ‘Big Society’ the 2012 White paper discussions, or it may even take a generation. Note of Optimism What is certain is that the principles that underlie HE in the UK run group The number and importance of the concerns raised might suggest deeper than the political project of any one government. What is also the debate was negative or even bitter, but many panellists struck certain is that many of those gathered in the House of Commons on There have been a couple of an optimistic note about the future. Whilst acknowledging that the 5th December will remain at the forefront of the public debate of HE battle over changes in HE is not yet won in the public sphere, Des policy. developments in the American Politics Group of the Association which we would like to bring to the wider membership’s attention. cardiff creative minds Firstly, after six years of very successful leadership, The Sport and Politics study group hosted a one day Professor Philip Davies (DeMontfort University and the workshop on sport and the ‘Big Society’ on 16th December Eccles Centre of the British Library) has stepped down as 2011. With speakers drawn from academia, think tanks Sponsored by Political Studies Specialist Group Special Chair of the group. He has been replaced by Dr Steve Hurst and local government, the workshop refl ected upon the Events Grant, and the Richard Burton Centre, Swansea. (Manchester Metropolitan University). The Vice-Chair, Dr meanings of the ‘Big Society’ and its relation to sport and Andy Wroe (University of Kent), has also retired after an enquired into other policy sectors and whether they could even longer period of service and is replaced by Dr Clodagh learn from sport’s response to current policy changes in Harrington (De Montfort University). a time of austerity. The presentations covered aspects Event: Bob’s Birthday Bash: Dylan at 70 such as volunteering, community development, social In addition, at its annual conference in January 2012 innovation, leisure, social capital, localism, citizenship and In celebration of Bob Dylan’s 70th Birthday and the 50th Anniversary the group decided to create the honorary position of fan activism. The symposium did not generate a consensual of John Hammond signing him to Columbia Records in 1961, the American Fellow of the APG in order to honour and defi nition of ‘Big Society’, though several working School of European Studies, supported by the Political Studies thank those American scholars who have shown their defi nitions were offered, but it certainly offered a valuable Association of the UK, brought together some of the leading commitment and support to the APG over many years. The exchange of current knowledge of the impacts, innovations commentators on the life, times and music of this politically iconic fi rst four individuals thus honoured are: Professor Joseph and responses to the ‘Big Society’ being felt throughout the fi gure whose career has spanned fi ve decades. At fi rst closely Zimmerman (University of Albany), Professor Andrew UK in the sport policy community at various levels. associated with the protest movements of the 1960s, Bob Dylan has Rudalevige (Dickinson College), Professor John Berg never been far away from controversy, constantly being portrayed as (Suffolk University) and Mr Jeffrey Goldberg (US Offi ce of The workshop held at the University of Brighton and was betraying his ‘authentic’ self. First by going electric and pandering Management and Budget).” organised by Dr Paul Gilchrist. A fuller report is available to commercialism, second by turning to country music and by from www.sportpolitics.net/20.html. The workshop was implication rejecting his folk roots, and then embracing religious kindly supported by an award from the Political Studies fundamentalism and refusing to play songs from his back catalogue. Association’s specialist activities competition. His songs in the 1960s served to identify the social problems, attributing their cause, not to the immediate perpetrator of a crime, such as the shooting of Medgar Evers, but to the society that produced such a killer. Blowin’ in the Wind, one of his most famous protest songs, notorious provides no answers. During his Christian phase, however, the answers were to be found in God, such as in the song Gotta Serve Somebody. connectivity - a pioneering new initiative and Politically Charged Music postgraduate course The keynote speaker Michael Gray argued that ‘the blues’ remained Browning gave illuminating talks on ‘Dylan Now and Then’, and an undercurrent in all of Bob Dylan’s works throughout his career, ‘Bob Dylan and the Politics of Infl uence. The vent also focused on drawing on a common stock of verses and phrases that were the relationship between Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas through the The Department of International the impact of the ‘information revolution’ provides a unique opportunity to study the ‘common property’ in the blues oevre. Bob Dylan’s achievement politically charged counter-culture of the Beats. Dylan Thomas, Politics, Aberystwyth University, on modern life. Connectivity focuses on the most signifi cant and dynamic phenomena of was to take this political charged body of songs and lyrics, whom Leonard Cohen described as having ‘an unconditional sense ways in which the combined force of the the 21st Century. absorb them and make them his own. Mike Jones challenged the of social irresponsibility’, was famous in his own time and this is is leading a major new initiative internet, digital technology and multiple conventional view of Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossmann, as an what the Beats wanted to emulate, life and success outside of the encompassing eight departments media and communications platforms are For more information on the Connectivity unscrupulous exploiter of young talent motivated entirely by self academy which they thought was destroying poetry. Bob Dylan, like from across the University. radically shaping not only the nature of Masters programme at Aberystwyth interest. Grossman, Mike Jones, contended, was an astute manager, Thomas was able to take poetry to the masses. These themes were individual lives and communities but also University, please see: and the fi rst of the modern kind. He was a skilled negotiator, and explored by Michael Gray, David Boucher, Daniel Williams and David the architecture of economies, societies and http://bit.ly/xAQP33 or alternatively, carefully crafted the careers of his artists. He certainly cut good Boucher. The round table discussion travelled to Swansea, Taliesin This will create a high-profi le hub for the cultures around the world. A central element contact Sarah Whitehead, deals for himself in a naïve and nascent industry, but he also made Theatre, the following day and was performed to a crowd of over 150 study of ‘Connectivity’ and a focal point of of this initiative is a new Masters degree e-mail: [email protected], Tel: 01970 622625 remarkable deals for those he represented. Neil Corcoran and Gary people. commercial and public outreach for exploring in Connectivity for entry in 2012, which

18 | association links departmental news | 19 engaging egypt war studies at 50 Stephen Whitefi eld, Head of Department, DPIR, and Fellow, Pembroke College The Department of War Studies is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1962, the Department has since become a world leader in its fi eld with around 100 staff and associated researchers studying all aspects of war, peace and security in the past, present and future.

Sir Michael Howard, Denise Lievesley, Sir Michael Laurence, Sir Lawrence Freedman, To celebrate its landmark anniversary the Department held a Mervyn Frost, Christopher Dandeker and Brian Bond special event on Friday 27th January - ‘War Studies: a Department and a Discipline, Past, Present and Future’, featuring talks by the Principal, Professor Rick Trainor, current staff, and former New MA heads of the Department including Professor Sir Laurence Martin, The Department has launched a new MA in South Asia and Professor Brian Bond, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman and Global Security which provides a focused understanding of the founder, Professor Sir Michael Howard.(pictured) interrelationships between the history, theory, and contemporary practice of security-led issues in South Asia. It incorporates history, To honour the Department’s anniversary, War Studies are hosting a thematic analysis, and case studies taught by academics from War series of seminars from February through to May under the banner Studies and the King’s India Institute. “War Studies at 50.” In these seminars, senior faculty and associated members will discuss the evolution and impact of the work of See more: the Department of War Studies in their academic and professional http://www.kcl.ac.uk/prospectus/graduate/ communities — with senior offi cers, political operators, or other south-asia-amp-global-security outside guests. For more information go to http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ sspp/departments/warstudies/newsevents/50.aspx Photo, courtesy of Dr Kendall, showing Tahrir Square just before Friday prayers on 25th November 2011, the last public prayers before the elections began on 28th November. taiwan 2012 takes over nottingham blog As Egypt concludes its fi rst post Arab With generous funding from Chris Rokos, founding partner at Brevan Jonathan Sullivan, University of Nottingham Howard Asset Management, a team of researchers in Oxford and Cairo spring election, a veil of ignorance are investigating these issues through a just completed national election survey of 2,000 Egyptians supplemented by a survey or The Republic of China (aka Taiwan) (Ballots and Bullets), publishing 123 posts; indicate that between Nov 1st 2011 and still exists regarding the political and parties and experts on parties competing in the founding democratic has recently concluded elections 46 by myself and 77 by guest contributors Jan 19th 2012 the blog generated 60,789 election. The team is led by Professor Stephen Whitefi eld, who has for the Presidency and Legislature. whom I invited. Guest posters included page views, including 14,503 in the fi nal electoral orientations of its voters. extensive experience of survey research in the new democracies of Taiwan specialists from institutions around week of the campaign and 4220 page views Central and Eastern Europe and includes Dr. Mazen Hassan of Cairo Free and fair elections, in which the world, journalists, members of NGOs, on Election Day. The make-up of the blog’s How well do its parties represent University (who recently completed his doctorate at Oxford on Party the incumbent Ma Ying-jeou and bloggers and a small number of grad audience was highly international, with diverse voters? Institutionalisation) and Dr Elisabeth Kendall, Senior Research Fellow his KMT secured re-election, were students. Content ranged from 400 to 1500 45% of readers based in Taiwan, 20% in in the Faculty of Oriental Studies. Dr Kendall is particularly interested preceded by a typically vibrant and words and included commentary, analysis, the US, 13% in the UK and 22% combined in the role of literature in shaping political attitudes and participation hard fought campaign which was reports based on authors’ academic from Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Are there distinct voting blocs in the country? Are voters divided in the Arab world and brings a distinct and welcome inter-disciplinary covered all the way by the Taiwan research, and multimedia offerings. Singapore and Japan. On Election Day I along a left-right economic cleavage or on a religious-secular perspective to the project. live-blogged for eight hours as the results one or a combination of both? What are the social characteristics 2012 blog. Google Analytics indicates that in the 12 came in. During this time, the blog became of these voting blocs? What is the role of new social media and Results and papers may be expected in the next year and it is hoped week period the blog attracted 32,261 a central resource for journalists and cultural production in mobilising Egyptians and in shaping their to expand the project to consider both the over-time dynamics of For 12 weeks between November 1st and visitors, with 7000 during the fi nal week general readers requiring immediate English political attitudes and behaviours? What is the role of women in post-revolutionary Egyptian politics and to place Egyptian party January 19th Taiwan 2012 took over the of the campaign. Statistics recorded by language coverage and analysis of the Egyptian politics? politics in a broader Arab and international context. School of Politics and IR’s existing blog WordPress (the blog’s platform provider) election results.

20 | departmental news 16 | departmental news departmental news | 21 new at northumbria new and familiar faces at Dr Oliver Hensengerth joined Basin, and Cambodian domestic politics. focus of its research. The comparative Northumbria University’s He has extensive field work experience method – across countries, polities, southampton in the region, particularly in China and jurisdictions in general - is in this respect Department of Social Sciences Cambodia. a preferred research strategy, and the Graham Smith, Head of Politics and International Relations in January 2012. active participation in pan-European and New Research Centre international networks and communities of Politics and International Before joining Northumbria, he worked for The Department has established a new academics and practitioners is central to the Universities of Southampton, Warwick research centre: the Northumbria University its mission. The notion of ‘public service’ is Relations (PAIR) and the and Essex and has conducted research for Research Centre on International Public a key unifying focus for the differentiated Centre for Citizenship, think tanks and academic institutions in Policy and Management (IPPaM). areas of research developed by the Centre. the United States, Germany and the UK, Globalization and for UK-based NGOs, and for the German IPPaM aims to bring together researchers, Information on the centre can be found at: Governance (C2G2) at Development Cooperation. He works practitioners and policy makers interested http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/ on Chinese foreign and environmental in exploring different areas of public academic/sass/about/socscience/solscres/ Southampton have policies, Chinese hydropower investment in governance, public policy, and public centreippam/?view=Standard continental Southeast Asia, trans-boundary services management. The Centre is witnessed significant water cooperation in the Mekong River international in the scope, ambition and investment in staff in the last three years.

Rod Rhodes Will Jennings

A particular focus has been the As well as his interest in mega-projects particular specialism is regionalism in Latin hull celebrations continue strengthening of research and teaching and events, Will is developing a strong America and more broadly global governance in the areas of Governance and Policy and international reputation in the area of and international institutions. She is author the House of Lords, with a reception to of the House of Commons, John Bercow. The Department of Politics and Global Political Economy. New and familiar executive politics and administration. He is of Advancing Governance in the South: What follow this summer in Hull. In addition This event saw the launch of a book International studies at the University faces have arrived over the last three years a co-investigator of the UK Policy Agendas Roles for International Financial Institutions it has hosted a series of lectures given entitled The Withering of the Welfare State: of Hull is currently celebrating its 50th and further positions are in the pipeline. Project www.policyagendas.org.uk and has in Developing States? (Palgrave 2009) and by public figures, politicians and Regression, edited by James Connelly and anniversary. published in a number of highly significant has most recently edited The Rise of Post- businessmen. The most recent lecture, on Jack Hayward (Palgrave) and featuring It was founded with a staff of three in Governance and Policy journals including American Journal of Hegemonic Regionalism: the Case of Latin the topic ‘Reform and Parliament’, was contributions by former and present the academic year 1961-2. To celebrate PAIR and C2G2 are pleased to welcome two Political Science, British Journal of Political America (Springer-UNU/CRIS, 2012) with given on February 23rd by the speaker members of the Department. the Department has held a reception in new faces this semester – one who will be Science and European Journal of Political Diana Tussie (FLACSO/Argentina). very familiar across the discipline; another Research. The most recent appointment in this area is whose stock is rising fast. Together they Chris Holmes, who joined us before he had further enhance an already strong research Global Politics, Policy and Political completed his PhD from Warwick. Chris won group responsible for the new postgraduate Economy the New Political Economy Graduate Student justin fisher appointed head of social programmes in Governance and Policy. Southampton has made a strategic decision Paper Prize 2008/09 with an article on to invest heavily in new scholars in the area hedge funds’ role in the economy. Much of sciences at brunel Rod Rhodes will need no introduction to of global political economy and policy. Over his current work brings the ideas of Polanyi many of you – we have managed to tempt the last three years we have appointed three to bear on contemporary political economy: Long-time Association member, Prof Justin Fisher, him back following six years in Australia. Rod young scholars who have helped enliven and to this end, he convened a workshop with of Brunel University has been appointed head of is life Vice-President and former Chair and strengthen the research and teaching culture leading scholars in the field and is now President of Political Studies Association and and have been instrumental in developing the University’s School of Social Sciences. preparing a special issue for Economy and it is good to have him back on this side of our new postgraduate programmes in IPE. Society based on some of the papers. In addition to his home Department of Politics & History, the the world. Rod’s most recent book is Everyday School includes four other departments: Anthropology, Economics Life in British Government (Oxford University Bona Muzaka joined us from Sheffield. The & Finance, Psychology, and Sociology & Communications. Fisher Press 2011) which reports on the shadowing focus of her work has primarily been on the These three new colleagues have proved describes this appointment as a great opportunity to build on the of ministers and senior civil servants in three governance of intellectual property rights. excellent appointments, impressing us with real strengths in Social Sciences at Brunel. ‘All five Departments British government departments and seeks She recently published her first monograph their energy and ideas. But is doesn’t stop are performing extremely well and there is an excellent culture of to answer the question ‘what do they do?’. The politics of intellectual property rights and there. We aim to further enhance the group Justin Fisher inter-disciplinary cooperation across the School.’ For example, Justin As long as Rod keeps asking this question of access to medicines (Palgrave 2011) along of scholars working on global policy, politics is currently working with Economists in the School on the impact last three years. Recent hires include Professor Elke Krahmann (who politicians and not his colleagues, we should with articles in journals such as European and political economy with two further of representative diversity at local government level on spending arrived from the University of Bristol last Autumn), and Dr Martin all be fine! Journal of International Relations and Review appointments by the end of the academic priorities. ‘Departments are the bedrock of the School’s activities, but Hansen and Dr Katja Sarmiento-Mirwaldt, who begin at Brunel this of International Political Economy. Since year. We are particularly interested in the School structure allows us to more easily promote interdisciplinary summer. Our second appointment in this area is Will joining PAIR, Bona has been responsible for developing our links with the Contemporary research where it makes sense to do so.’ Jennings who is joining us from Manchester. re-energising the programme of support we China Centre and building on University In addition to his new role, Justin will continue to direct the Will is likely to find himself in demand offer for PhD students. strategic priorities such as development, Justin’s home Department of Politics & History has been going from University’s Magna Carta Institute and is actively involved in over the coming months, with the timely rising powers, health and environment, strength to strength in recent years. Excellent performances in the organising the celebrations and legacy for the 800th anniversary of publication of Going for Gold: The Olympics, Pia Riggirozzi also joined us following amongst other areas. Keep an eye out for the RAE and NSS have led to several new appointments – ten in the the Magna Carta in 2015. Risk and Risk Management (Palgrave 2011). a research fellowship at Sheffield. Her adverts.

22 | departmental news departmental news | 23 launch of ‘sussex the connection between david lloyd centre for study of corruption’ george and kirsty williams?

What do these politicians have in common: David Lloyd Corruption is, it would appear, broad and inclusive approach to analysing high-profile launch conference in London on George, Clement Davies and Kirsty Williams? one of the great evils of our what corruption is, where and why it the 6th and 7th September 2012. Political flourishes and also what (most importantly) scientists from around the globe will be As well as being Welsh Liberal politicians they are also featured time. Citizens are appalled by can be done about it. coming together with practitioners from on a new set of Welsh historical political playing cards. Professor it, international organisations the world of policy, business, international Russell Deacon, together with the artist Dan Peterson have just have created numerous reform With this in mind the SCSC is launching NGOs and the international development produced what they believe to be the first every set of Welsh agendas to tackle it and the UK’s first MA (in ‘Corruption and both to take stock of where the fight against historical political playing cards. The 54 playing cards are based politicians earnestly claim Governance’) aimed at analysing precisely corruption currently stands as well where it on the four main political parties of Wales, which together with these issues, and the SCSC will welcome goes from here. Labour, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats also includes Plaid to want to reduce it. There its first cohort of students in the Autumn Cymru. is subsequently plenty for of 2012. The MA is based in the School of For further information, see political scientists interested in Law, Politics and Sociology, and alongside http://www.sussex.ac.uk/lps/ Those wishing to see more about the politicians on these cards or analysing corruption to get their a wide-range of classroom based modules, research/lpsresearchcentres/ purchase them can visit the cards web site: respective teeth in to. students will be encouraged to undertake a sussexcentreforthestudyofcorruption/ www.protestandsurvive.com three month internship at an NGO, regulatory futureevents body or other organisations interested in The University of Sussex has risen to this tackling corrupt practices. For more details, The SCSC will also be involved in an array challenge by launching the ‘Sussex Centre see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/polces/ of other events aimed at moving the fight for the Study of Corruption’ (SCSC). The pgstudy/2012/taught/26858#tabs-2 against corruption forward. SCSC, under the leadership of Dr. Dan Hough, For more information on those, or on any houses not just political scientists, but also programme of engagement The SCSC will also be linking up with of the above, please mail Dan Hough at lawyers, economists, anthropologists and Transparency International UK to host a [email protected] development studies scholars. It takes a The Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences Research at Manchester east anglia updates Metropolitan University has launched a programme of public engagement events, Staff News has hosted a series of public lectures that Alan Finlayson moved in January to the examine such problems. Over the past two built around the theme of School of Political, Social and International years, PSI has invited leading public figures Studies (PSI) at UEA, where he has been to draw on their expertise and experience and ‘community’. appointed Professor in Political and Social to discuss what leads certain issues to be Annabel Kiernan and Kate Green MP Theory. Alan completed his studies at Trinity consigned to the ‘Too Difficult Box’, and what College, Cambridge University and then at it would take for them to be successfully The year-long series began in October with Other events which have featured so far are a reception in Manchester Queen’s University Belfast, where he began resolved. The lectures reflect the School’s a conference for community organisers and ‘Community Rights Made Real’ roadshow with ❖ 10th June: Operation Float Build! his academic career. His research interests are commitment to engage the public in key practitioners, ‘Big Society: Snapshots from co-hosts Urban Forum, a Day School on the Student float building project for the in contemporary political theory, especially political issues and its ambition to improve the frontline’. The conference was opened by work of Jean Luc Nancy and a public debate Manchester Day Parade, the float will approaches influenced by continental the dialogue between practitioners and Kate Green MP and included presentations on North West housing histories, held at the represent John Dalton, a local and Rt Hon Charles Clarke philosophy and agonistic conceptions of academics. from academics and practitioners on topics People’s History Museum in Manchester. community hero democracy, theories of rhetoric and the including the government’s Community Events for the remainder of the programme ❖ 29th June: Symposium – Music fandom, analysis of political speech), British politics, The first series was opened by the Rt Hon David Lipsey examined social care, Charles Organiser programme, youth narratives in the include: Community, Memory and Place political ideologies and ideas, and critical Charles Clarke, Visiting Professor at UEA Clarke immigration, Patricia Hewitt gender Big Society and poverty and deprivation in studies of public policy and governmentality, since 2010, who coined the idea of the ‘Too discrimination, and Gillian Shephard the communities across Europe. The conference ❖ 27th April: Symposium – The European For further information about any of on which topics he has published widely. Difficult Box’. In the following lectures, illusion of power. Richard Dannatt concluded was closed by John Atlas, US author of Crime Genre in Translation: Toward a the events or to submit an abstract for Anthony Giddens discussed climate change, the second series on 26th January 2012 with ‘Seeds of Change: The story of ACORN’, Politics of Transnational Dialogue the Football and Community conference Recent Events John Hutton the reform of public pensions, a talk on the challenge of defending the UK. which stimulated an animated debate about ❖ 11th May: Salon – Multiple Generosities; (deadline 5th April 2012) please contact Dr There are certain issues that governments Hayden Phillips the public funding of political A third series is currently in preparation. grassroots activism in the UK and the US. Challenging the Declining Community Annabel Kiernan at [email protected] or consider to be intractable. Some they prefer parties, Stephen Wall Britain and Europe, Some of the audio and presentation materials Thesis phone 0161 247 3037 not to address; others they would prefer and Shirley Williams multilateral nuclear For further information, see: http://www.uea. from the conference are available at: http:// ❖ 1 st June: One day conference – Football to avoid, but cannot ignore. The School disarmament. In the second series, ac.uk/psi/eventsnews/too-difficult-box snapshotsfrontline.wordpress.com/conference and Community including an evening

24 | departmental news 20 | departmental news engagement | 25 greek politics group Point of Reference Finally, due to the structure of the news cycle and the nature of news values, featuring a specifi c event or activity – such as our recent engages with the media Glasgow conference – can facilitate engagement with the media and with the broader public, with that event acting as a tangible point on crisis in greece of reference for the discussion. Combining the academic core of an activity with broader public engagement can create multiple synergies, Roman Gerodimos, Group Convenor maximising its impact and pedagogic value. During the last few months and as European media outlets have increasingly focused on the Greek crisis, we have witnessed the role that the media can play In 2009, the Greek Politics Specialist in the construction or perpetuation of nationalistic stereotypes and, even, in states’ bilateral relations. Engaging with the media, educating Group (GPSG) launched “Greece journalists who have no fi rst-hand understanding of the reality on the Beyond the Crisis” – a series of ground, reframing the debate, challenging stereotypes and putting informed or alternative interpretations and solutions forward, all form activities, such as research fi eldwork an important agenda for academics, especially in the context of an competitions, podcasts and sponsored evolving framework for the evaluation of political and social sciences’ roundtables, aiming to explore the contribution in society. root causes, as well as the possible ways out, of the current political, economic and social crisis facing the country. learning lessons from This work culminated in the organisation of a major, two-day Rapid Response international conference, held in Glasgow in December 2011, This brings me to the second major factor, which is rapid response. intelligence and security under the auspices of the Association’s Specialist Activities Fund. Most, if not all, of the media queries have been very time-sensitive, The conference, entitled “The Politics of Extreme Austerity: Greece with a short window period for a response. While this sometimes Robert Dover, Loughborough University Beyond the Crisis”, was hosted by the School of Government and becomes a resource-intensive job, the opportunity to engage with Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde, with additional journalists and, through them, inform the public debate is a very support from HSBC and Glasgow City Chambers. important and rewarding one. As a response to this demand, the The ‘Lessons Learnt’ project, funded GPSG gives all its full (fee-paying) members the opportunity, while Hub of Experts registering with us, to also sign up for the “media experts” service. by the AHRC, is part of a continuing At a time of heated rhetoric, historic decisions and a polarised This, in turn, has provided us with an international and inter- and fruitful collaboration between public sphere, promoting informed and scholarly discussion with a disciplinary network of experts who are willing to be approached. comparative and multidisciplinary perspective is more important Robert Dover (Loughborough and than ever. However, engaging with broader audiences and informing Signposting our role and having a network of available experts have the Convenor of the Political Studies the public debate through the media is equally important and, both been key; but of equal importance is highlighting the Group’s over the last few years, the GPSG has built a robust track record of track record. We have, thus, developed a dedicated space on our Association Security and Intelligence media appearances and expert commentary. While, as accomplished website (http://www.gpsg.org.uk/about-us/press-media/) featuring a Studies Group) and Michael S. academics and researchers, our members may have their own contacts full list of all the news items featuring GPSG’s work or experts, along and presence in the media, the emergence of the GPSG as a hub of with links to the original content. This is paramount to demonstrating Goodman (KCL). Robert Dover Michael S. Goodman experts has created synergies and has produced a total that is more the Group’s credibility as a leading network of experts and has allowed than a sum of its parts. Hence, we have worked with tens of news us to build a relationship of trust with our media partners. Given th This project aims to improve and develop the relationship For more information on this Lessons Learnt organisations across media platforms (print, radio, TV and online) between researchers and government via the production of project, please contact Robert e sensitive and sometimes controversial subject matter of our fi eld, “Islamic, Independent, Perfect and Strong”: across six continents (Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia it also helps us demonstrate that we are, truly, a non-partisan and research and briefi ng papers, and seminars held in Whitehall. The Dover at r.m.dover@lboro. Parsing the Taliban’s Strategic Intentions, 2001-2011 and Australia) through expert commentary, interviews and op-ed independent network, as we encourage the free expression of opinions primary impact is on improving national security, achieved via ac.uk, and to join the Security academics contributing to the development of the government’s pieces. across media regardless of political persuasion. and Intelligence Studies Group analytical capability. Refl ecting on the Group’s operation as a link between academics please search for (Secret) and the media, I feel that four elements have been critical to our The project is split into two halves: Intelligence Studies and success: online presence, accessibility / rapid response, track record ❖ Highlighting historical examples of good analysis. Research Group on linkedin. and proactive creation of opportunities. The big majority of media ❖ Improving understanding of regions of current interest. enquiries has come through our website (www.gpsg.org.uk), which has rewarded our strategic decision to invest substantially (both in Leading academics have been specially commissioned to produce terms of money in proportion to our limited means, but also more research and briefi ng papers for a Whitehall audience. This current importantly in those of time and effort) on building a serious online project builds upon the earlier work by Dover and Goodman (again presence during the last four years. Signposting our availability to sponsored by the AHRC) in May and June 2010 that comprised a Lessons Learnt the media, but also providing a dedicated online query form and series of 5 policy seminars on Lessons Learnt from the History of answer-phone has meant that journalists are able to easily and quickly British Intelligence and Security, held in partnership with the Foreign contact us. and Commonwealth Offi ce, the Cabinet Offi ce, King’s College London and The Royal United Services Institute. 26 | engagement engagement| 27

Alex Strick van Linschoten Felix Kuehn AHRC PUBLIC POLICY SERIES NO 3 impact, engagement and the themes and issues around which it would read, reviewed and published in an auditable out of hearings. This reflects the fact that welcome responses (formally referred to as form (i.e. the ‘impact audit trail’) on the MPs are often expected to be on several ‘Submissions of Evidence’) from interested committee’s website. For those who are called committees (select, standing, all-party, dangerous liaisons experts, groups and sections of the public. to appear a rather nerve-wracking, sometimes etc.) at the same time and will therefore This is the main gateway through which slightly odd but always incredibly rewarding sometimes need to jump in-and-out of Matthew Flinders information (including summaries of recent experience lies before them. Appearances sessions. It is also not unusual for some academic research) will be collected by the before a select committee generally take evidence sessions to be held with a fairly Matthew Flinders is Professor of Politics clerks and fed into the inquiry process. place on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday small number of MPs present due to the morning and most sessions last around pressure of overlapping commitments. at the University of Sheffield. He Short, Sharp and Concise ninety minutes and may involve three or four regularly appears before a range of Responses to select committee calls for witnesses appearing together. The aim of an select committees in the House of Lords evidence should be short, sharp and concise. appearance is not for the witnesses to justify There is also the There is no need to address questions and their invitation or compete with each other and the House of Commons and most issues about which you know little and the in terms of contributions but is really an unfortunate fact that recently appeared before the House emphasis is very much on quality and not opportunity for members of the committee on some occasions and quantity. Set out in a series of numbered to focus on very specific issues and themes of Commons’ Liaison Committee – the paragraphs I would not expect a submission that may have been raised in your specific depending on the topic, senior committee consisting of all select to ever be longer than three sides of A4. One submission or by other witnesses.The general context and timing of the committee chairmen – to discuss the of the commonest complaints of committee approach is that each of the MPs on the clerks is that academics tend to bombard committee has a number of pre-arranged hearing, some MPs will use changing relationship between the the committee with long esoteric research questions that they have been allocated select committee hearings executive and legislature. In this article papers but fail to provide a relatively short and there are usually, after some generic to try and either boost he reflects upon the opportunities and statement about why their research relates to introductory questions by the Chairman, the topic of the inquiry. specific questions for specific witnesses. their own media profile challenges offered by parliamentary or to draw witnesses into engagement for social and political Intimidating Buildings Committees are particularly The Palace of Westminster, and even party-political debates. scientists. looking for responses Portcullis House, are intimidating buildings Matthew Flinders and for many academics having a panel of that raise significant well-known politicians and former ministers If faced with a rather aggressive line of The forthcoming REF’s increased emphasis Documented Evidence of Policy Debate make parliamentary engagement part of their issues and debates that in front of them and a host of clerks, questioning - or a question that you feel on demonstrable ‘impact’ is a source of As such one valuable element of an ‘impact ‘research impact plans’ and also to provide officials, journalists and other observers is for one reason or another inappropriate some concern and confusion for many case study’ might be an appearance before some advice about what to expect if called to have not been raised in taking notes behind them can be a daunting - the best response is generally to suggest academics. It is, however, more of an a select committee or, at the very least, appear in person before a select committee. the initial committee experience. One way of making this that the question is possibly one for the opportunity than a threat in the sense that the inclusion of a submitted memorandum experience slightly less stressful is to stay committee rather than witnesses. In reality, the Politics and International Relations of evidence as part of the published First Step scoping document. The in close contact with the committee clerk in however, the professionalization of select Panel has clearly signalled its intention to evidence surrounding a report. ‘Documented The first step in the journey towards convention is that all the days before your appearance. It is quite committees has increased significantly in adopt a broad and creative approach to the evidence of policy debate (for example, engaging with a select committee obviously normal to be given a list, or at the very least recent years and committee chairmen (the definition and assessment of ‘impact’. at a parliamentary select committee)’ is involves monitoring the inquiries of the submissions of evidence a fairly detailed account, in advance of your term used to describe both male and female therefore included as a central example of committees that deal with the areas of will be made public on appearance of the questions you are likely to incumbents) are generally grateful to and Softer Approach ‘Evidence and Indicators of Impact’ within research you are working on. There are be asked by the committee. protective of academics who appear before The Panel Criteria and Working Methods the latest REF2014 panel criteria. It is in twenty-two select committees that are the parliamentary website their committees. that were published in January 2012 also exactly this climate that appearances before basically charged with monitoring and and some particularly It is also well worth spending a little time suggest that a softer approach to impact has parliamentary select committees, in both the scrutinising a specific ministerial department. reading around any previous reports by It would, however, be naïve to suggest that been adopted than might have previously House of Commons and the House of Lords, In addition to this there are a number of useful submissions may be the committee on (or related to) the topic an appearance before a select committee been expected from some of the initial provide an incredibly valuable opportunity for cross-governmental committees (Public published as an appendix of your appearance (the clerk will be able does not involve at least a little risk on REF documentation. The impact ‘case social scientists to influence government and Accounts, Public Administration, etc.) to send you these documents) and also behalf of those called to appear – they can studies’ submitted by most departments of policy-makers, while also disseminating their and specialist committees in the Lords to the main report. very quickly familiarising yourself with the be dangerous liaisons. Not least for the politics – and indeed, most social science research more broadly. (Constitution, Science and Technology, etc.). biographies of the MPs on the committee. All simple fact that evidence sessions take place departments - are unlikely to focus on a The Campaign for Social Sciences publishes Most select committees are staffed by just select committees work around a set of eight within a highly charged political context and specific piece of research which can be The problem is, however, that select a monthly Policy Monitor that lists all the one clerk and one assistant clerk and to ‘core tasks’ and produce an annual report sometimes witnesses can become lightning clearly and unequivocally proven to have committee clerks frequently find it hard to: current inquiries, reviews and consultations a greater or lesser extent these are the at the end of each parliamentary session to rods for broader tensions. One experienced led to a change in policy or law but is more (firstly) identify academics with the expertise across Whitehall, Westminster and even individuals that, under the guidance of their explain how they have fulfilled each of the committee clerk recently admitted how likely to knit together a range of research- to help inform a specific inquiry; (secondly) within the institutions of the European Union chairman, will select who should be called tasks. These annual reports (available on the remarkable he still found it when the driven impact-activities that, taken together, identify academics with the relevant expertise and is an invaluable resource for anyone to appear in person before the committee committee’s website) are an incredibly quick atmosphere of an evidence session suddenly provide a compelling case that a given who are also willing to engage with an wishing to develop their research profile in and which questions deserve to be asked by and easy way of getting up to speed with the ‘turned’ almost without warning. The aim of research team or strand has had a significant inquiry; and (thirdly) find academics with the relation to policy-relevance and impact. members. work of a committee. making this point is not to deter academics social impact. It is in exactly this latter vein expertise and willingness who are also able Most committee inquiries will begin with the from engaging with Parliament because the that the ‘stimulation of public debate’ and to talk about their research in a concise and publication of an ‘Issues and Questions’ paper The vast majority of respondents to the That said, select committees are curious benefits of doing so far outweigh the risks ‘contributions to public understanding’ are accessible manner. The aim of this article on a specific topic. The aim of this document initial call for submissions of evidence will beasts and one of the most frequent but there is much to be said for ‘playing it explicitly given as examples of impact within is therefore to outline how and why more is to explain why the committee feels this not be called to appear in person before frustrations for witnesses is the manner in safe’ in terms of following some of the tips the REF2014 guidance documentation. political and social scientists can and should topic warrants an inquiry and also to set out the committee but all the evidence will be which MPs tend to constantly walk in and outlined on the next page. 28 | engagement engagement| 29 Ten Tips for Engaging with Parliament in praise of social democracy Kevin Hickson ❖ Review the landscape - Monitor the work of the select requests, invitations to participate in departmental reviews committees regularly and build it into all stages of the or simply calls to work with other select committees. The second in a series of discussions to mark the publication of Roy Hattersley and Kevin research process. Building some means of continuous ❖ Do Your Research – Read around the topic of the inquiry Hickson’s ‘In Praise of Social Democracy’ by The Political Quarterly took place at engagement with a committee throughout a research and try to ensure that your evidence reveals an awareness process can be an incredibly attractive feature for funders. of the bigger picture. It is also worth knowing if the the University of Liverpool on 17th February. ❖ Be Creative – Select committees are constantly looking committee has investigated the same topic before, whether for new pools of expertise, fresh ways of looking at the government has made any recent announcements or The article was recently criticised in the New perennial topics and innovative ways of engaging with new commitments and which members of the committee are Statesman by former Foreign Secretary David audiences. Political theorists have much to offer Parliament. driving the inquiry. Miliband. The relevant pieces can be found here: ❖ Be Proactive – If you feel an important topic is being ❖ Stay Close to the Clerks – If it is the role of the chairman to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/ overlooked then write to the chairman or clerk of the ‘steer’ their committee then it is most certainly the role of (ISSN)1467-923X relevant committee and explain why the topic warrants the clerks to do the day-to-day ‘rowing’ in terms of research investigation. Horizon scanning is a critical element of any and administration. Parliamentary clerks tend to possess In addition to the two authors, those participating committee’s work. not only the strongest intellectual minds in Whitehall and were Liverpool MPs Louise Ellman and Stephen Twigg ❖ Build Relationships – A lot of parliamentary communication Westminster but also the sharpest political antennae. Stay and former MP and Minister Peter Kilfoyle. and engagement takes place through informal channels close to your clerk. Hattersley and Kilfoyle argued that Labour’s traditional so do spend time talking to members of the committee, ❖ Thick Skin Helps – A small number of MPs do take the values and policies, including equality and a more liaising with the clerks or even offering to hold informal adversarial and combative style of questioning that is active state, were required in the current economic evidence sessions (or to host committee visits). customary in the Chamber up onto the Committee Corridor. circumstances and would be electorally popular. The ❖ Hold Realistic Expectations – Parliamentary engagement If you feel that at an MP is deliberately twisting your other speakers said they shared the same values but is very much a slow-burn activity that very rarely answers, is being overly-aggressive in style or is clearly were less critical of New Labour. delivers direct results. It is about feeding into a broader intent on using your appearance to make a party political consultative process and being willing to liaise with a point simply stay calm, look to the Chairman for support The event was well attended by academics, students range of bodies. and don’t take it too personally. and local party members. ❖ Expect Momentum – The great thing about engaging with ❖ Enjoy the Experience – Give yourself plenty of time to get select committees is that it very often leads to completely through security, make sure you know exactly where you are Further events are planned around the country and Peter Kilfoyle, Former MP Liverpool Walton; Kevin Hickon, University of Liverpool; Louise Ellman MP, unexpected opportunities simply due to the fact that going but then simply enjoy the experience. Parliamentary details can be obtained from Dr Kevin Hickson at Liverpool Riverside; Roy Hattersley, House of lords and former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and your name, research or department has ‘bleeped’ on the engagement can be one of the most rewarding and [email protected] Stephen Twigg MP, Liverpool West Derby Whitehall/Westminster radar. This might involve media worthwhile elements of an academic’s job.

academics and policymakers joint production of policy ideas: teaching parliament Naomi Kent, Parlimentary Outreach Officer nottingham project on uk-china military cooperation

in Africa and the Middle East and pirate to form creative policy plans that are If you teach Politics or a related subject, the are benefiting from tailored resources and Exciting Development The Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies and attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Tackling these feasible for future bilateral cooperation. chances are that you will cover the subject services from Parliament. A particularly exciting development is a series China Policy Institute at the University ‘non-traditional security’ issues is essential China’s engagement in non-traditional of Parliament with your students. Here at of Open Lectures, which will be delivered of Nottingham and Royal United to protecting the UK economy. For example, security issues, such as peacekeeping, Parliament’s Outreach Service, we have Dedicated Space at Westminster by senior figures from Services Institute (RUSI) jointly hosted 30% of UK trade, including supplies for post-disaster assistance, and anti-piracy been examining how to assist universities Coming soon will be a dedicated space on within Parliament, covering a wide variety a conference ‘China’s Engagement in gas and oil, comes through the Gulf of operations, is a cutting-edge study area in to access information from the Houses of the Parliament website for university staff of subjects about Parliament and its work. Non-Traditional Security: Challenges Aden. The hijacking of UK gas tankers academia. A significant body of knowledge Parliament about its processes, business and and students, explaining and signposting These regular lectures are aimed specifically and Opportunities for UK-China Military st nd would severely affect the UK economy and has been accumulated over the past several work, and investigating what else we could the research and information currently at staff and students from universities across Cooperation’ at RUSI on 21 -22 commodity prices. Since the mid-2000s, years, but study results remain unused. provide to support lecturers and tutors to produced by Parliament. You will also the UK. The first Open Lecture took place September 2011. The conference China has taken an active approach in The conference promoted the application teach on this subject. find advice on planning student visits to on Friday 9th March, and featured Andrew was funded by the ESRC Knowledge dealing with these non-traditional security of accumulated academic knowledge and Parliament here. You will be able to access Kennon, Clerk of Committees, speaking on Exchange Small Grant, University of Nottingham and RUSI. Conference issues. With China’s rising influence in provided opportunities for academics and There is currently a wealth of information on new teaching resources which we are “Select Committees and the Commons: recent participants included UK and Chinese many conflict-prone areas, it is essential to policymakers in the UK and China to co- the Parliament website, including excellent creating to meet the needs of lecturers and developments”. academics, policymakers from Foreign have a high level of cooperation with China produce creative policy recommendations research from the House of Commons and tutors, and request a speaker from within and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of in tackling these new types of threats. of UK-China non-traditional House of Lords Libraries, podcasts and videos Parliament for an event at your university. Future plans from Parliament include the Defence, the third and business sectors, security cooperation programmes. A about Parliamentary processes, factsheets John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of launch of a ‘Parliamentary Studies’ module, and government officials from China. Co-operation with China conference summary paper with policy and educational resources. Also, the Outreach Commons, will be officially launching these which is in the early stages of development The UK government is seeking more security recommendations is being launched late Service run free, non-political lectures and resources for universities at the Political in partnership with the University of Twenty-First Century cooperation with China. However, given the March 2012. The Embassy will concurrently workshops about Parliament with universities Studies Association conference on 5th April. Sheffield. The twenty-first century has witnessed new rapidity of change in Chinese policies and host a seminar in Beijing, in which the across the UK, which are always very well Amongst other topics, he will be speaking If you would like to be kept informed about forms of conflict and the changing nature practices and its complex policy apparatus, recommendations will be discussed with received. We want to build on this work, and about links between Parliament’s Outreach these resources and services, please contact of security, such as intra-state conflicts it is a challenging task for UK policymakers Chinese officials. ensure that as many universities as possible service and the university sector. Naomi Kent on [email protected]

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